Improvement in means for detaching boats



T. SHAW.

Means for Detachng Boats.

Patented April 1, 1873.

1 JPY/Www??? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS SHAW, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

EMPROVENIENT IN MEANS FOR DETACHING BOATS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,325, dated April 1,1873; application led January 9, 1872.

To all lwhom fit may concern:

` Be it known that I, THOMAS SHAW, of the city and coun ty ofPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved Mode ofDetaching Small Boats from Vessels at Sea and I hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference-being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

My invention consists in supporting the weight of boat upon a strand, tobe severed in the manner and for the purpose as hereafter described. Theobject of the invention is to have a method certain to detach both endsof boat at the same time, when in a rough sea, that the passengers maybe set aiioat without the risk of being swamped, as is usually thecasein such emergencies.

In order to enable others to use and practice my invention, I willproceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawing which forms part of thespecification,

Figure l is a side view, and Fig. 2 is a stern view, of which,- Y

a is a planking supporting arms b, to which is attached cord e, whichcord is passed through eyebolts c, and is lashed in the center of boat dby a cord to be severed as hereinafter described. The boat is detachedin this wise: The cord e at the bow and stern of boat is secured to theordinary tackle for hoisting the boat, and it is intended that this cordshall sustain the entire lweight of boat, and that it shall be free fromknots between the eye'bolts c in order that the cord may pass freely outof the eyebolts Whenever it is severed, for the purpose of allowing theboat to drop evenly into the sea. As repeated cutting of the rope orcord e would ultimately destroy the same, it is intended to lash thelooped ends d together, that the lashing may be out and renewed at eachlowering and raising of boat.

It will be evident that this device is free from complication, and canbe operated by the most ignorant, and that a knife is the only toolrequired, and that both ends will be lowered at the same moment. Thenumerous devices in existence intended for the same purpose, and usefulin the hands of experts, are very complicated to the unskilled, who, inthe hour of danger, have no time to inspect mechanical devices.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

'Ihe davits, aud the ordinary tackle for raising and lowering boats,ropes e provided with loops at their extremities, a boat provided witheyebolts c, and the coupling or lashing cord adapted to be out asdescribed, when combined for operation as a boat-detaching apparatus,substantially as herein described.

THOMAS SHAW.

Witnesses:

J oHN A. KEENAN, ELIAS J. SHAW.

